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DEPiVRTITOTT    OP   THE   UTTER lOR 
WASHINGTON 


Seattle,  ?/ash.  ,   Sept.    3,   1910 

Hon.   R.A.   Bal linger, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior, 
Seattle  ,  ^^;„sh. 
Sir:- 

I   return  iierewitli  the   iJt.pers  relating  to   the   siti^ation 
near  the  mouth  of   the   Colorado  River . 

The  iiatter   is   coxnplicated  }riainly  by  the   ownership 
of  large  areas   on  "both   sides   of  the  .Colorado  River,    in 
Mexico ,  and  "by  the  pressure  that  vrill  he  brought  to  bear  to 
have  the  v/ork   so   extended  as  to  protect  all  property,    etc., 
subject   to   ravages   of   the   overflow  not   only   in  the  U.S.   but 
in  Hexico  as  well.        Eor   the   protection  of  American   inter- 
ests  in  the   Sal  ton  Sink  and   Imperial  Valley,  and   the    irri- 
gable  lands   in  the  U.S.,   an   effectual   reir^edy   is   obvious   in- 

1.  Coxiipleting  the   levee  nov/  partially  built    south 

of   the   Imperial   Canal   extending    (in  llexico 
entirely)    from  the   Colorado   river   levee, 
below  the    intake,  across  ITew  River   drainage 
area   to   the  high  ground  vvest    of  ITew  River; 

2.  Providing  a    suitable  and  i^racticable   intake 

for   The    Imperial   Canal,  which   involves   fix- 
ing the  low  level   of   the   Colorado  River   in 
the  vicinity   of  and  at   the    intake,      in  the 
U.S.   Territory,        This   obvious  arx-angement 
\7ill  not   probably   satisfy  the   landed   inter- 
ests  in  Hexico,    or,   probably,   be  aided  by 
the  llexican  Governjuient . 

If  the   present   intake    could  be    closed  and   the 
^.-.^. _^ — J.   Canal  be    extended  to  a   new   intake  above  the  Lag^ina 
Dam,  and  the   owners   of   this   Canal  passing   in  Mexico  be   com- 
pelled to   complete  their  levee  for   the  protection  of  Salton 
Sink  against  water   coming  into   this   Canal   in  Mexico,    the 
matter  v/ould  be   solved   in   so   far  as     American  interests  are 
involved,   but   the  v/ork   of   extension  to  Laguna  Dam  would 
cost   probaoly  $2,000,000,    or   twice   the    current   appropria- 
tion,  but  be  under   control   of  the   Governjaertt . 

Very  respectfully, 

Consulting  Engineer. 


-4  7- 


DEP^JlTIOrJTT   OP  THE   ULTERIOR 
PROTICTirG  LAi^US   AID   PROPERTY 
I1TPP31IAL  VAI.LP,Y,    Cal. 


Yuma  ,  Ar  iz  .  ,   Oct.    4  ,    1 910 


I  iiiivc   tiic   hoiior   to    submit   the  follo\Ting  report,    cov- 
ering my  investigations   of  the   lower   Colorado   River  and 
its  delta,   together  v/ith  a  project   for  the   control  of  tlmt 
stream,    in  a  manner   tliat  will  protect    the   lands  c;.nd  proper- 
iperial  Valley,    Cal. 


received; 


On  July  19th,  1910,  the  following  telegi-am  v/as 


"¥a shingt  on ,  D . C . 


"J  .A.  Ockcrsoi-,  u^.x  o  --^saissippi  River  Coj^u.iission, 
St  .•  Louis  ,  Mo  . 

The  President  jc^.h  designaoed  ^,  uurself  Engineer  to 
investigate  Imperial  Valley  situation  on  the  Colo- 
•rado  River  near  boundary  "betvireen  U.S.  and  Ivlexico 
for  which  Congress  recently  appropriated  one  mil- 
lion dollars.   Please  report  to  Interior  Dept. 
here  for  conference  prompt  action  necessary. 

Prank  Pierce , 

Acting  Sec'y." 


On  th.e  evening  of  July  19th,  the  v/riter  left  St. 
5uis,  and  reported  to  the  Interior  Dept.  on  the  morning 
of  July  21st.  After  a  general  conference  as  to  the  hope  of 
investigations  to  be  inade  and  the  character  of  work  to  Le 
done,  the  results  v/ere  embodied  in  t}ie  following  letter  of 
instruct: ons: 


DEPART] TITT  OP  TI'J:  INTERIOR. 

"Washington,  D.C.,  July  22/lO 

..  .    Ocherscn,  Esq.,, 

Washington,  D.C, 

Sir:- 

By  Joint  Resolution  of  Congress,  approved  June  25 
1910,  it  v/as  provided: 


-43- 


Ifnri).    4- 


the.  sum  of   one 


thereof  a.s 

of  b.ny  xiionc;: 


.ry 


Lllion  dollcirs,    or   so  r:iuch 
'eby  appropriated  out 


pro- 


ije  necesso-j .  , 

.^  111  the  Treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated, 
to  he  expended  hy  the  President,  for  the  purpose  of  -"- 
tecting  the 
elsev/here 

the  United  States,  and  the  President  is  authorized  to  ex- 
pend any  portion  of  such  money  within  the  limits  of  the 
Repuhlic  of  Mexico,  as  he  raay  deem  proper,  in  acocrdance 
v.'ith  such  agreements,  for  the  purpose,  as  he  inay  niake  with 
the  Republic  of  Mexico . 


_^ ,  ^     __  ^ *     _j.    _ _^.  J-^      w 

5   lands  and  property   in  the   Iiaperial  Valley  and 
i.long  the   Colorado   River,  v/ithin  the  limits   of 


Interior 
of  which 
ularly 
1oy;s: 


On  July  8,  1910,  the  Acting  Secretary  ci    .^-_ 
addressed  to  the  President  a  comxiainication,  copy 
is  herewith  enclosed,  your .attention  heing  partic- 
directed  to  tliat  par^..rraph  thereof,  reading  as  fcl- 


"The  ascertainment  of  what  is  necessary  to  be 
done  for  the  purpose  of  accomplishing  permanent  avoidance 
of  these  recurring  menaces  to  life  and  property  on  both 
sides  of  the  International  Boundary  Line  will  reqtiire  a 
thorovigh  exajiiination  of  physical  conditions,  which,  to  be 
effective,  should  have  the  co-operation  of  both  govern- 
ments and  will  consiune  considerable  time.   In  the  meantime, 
j5nnineer  Hill  states  tlxat  unless  prompt  relief  is  afforded 
a  water  shortage,  if  not  famine,  is  probable  in  the  Im- 
perial Valley  -'ii''<in   t''!e  next  tv,ro  months. 

In  a  country  Adhere  the  heat  reaches  an  intensity 
of  120  def-rees  and  even  higher,  the  great  loss  of  property 
and  menace  to  both  animal  and  human  life,  Wjiich  rnay  ensue, 
should  such  a  catastrophe  occur,  renders  it  impex-ative  that 


prompt  measures  be  taken  tov^ard  averting  the  same, 


To 


tiiat    end,    I  respectfully  recoxrjcend  tliat   you  designate  an 
engineer,  liaving  familiarity  with- problems   involving  river 


control 

the  purpose 
and  if  so ,  i 


to  proceed  im;rLediately 


with  an  e:carain-ation,  for 
of  deter;riining  v/hether  sucxi  emergency  exists, 
0  take     steps  necessary  to  avoid  the  same." 


"You  have  been  employed  and  designated  by  the 
President  to  Eiake  investigation  of  the  situation  referred 
to  in  said  Joint  Resolution  and  communication  . 

You  v/ill  report  as  to  whether  the  existing  emer- 
gency is  sucli  as  to  require  irrmiediate  action,  and,  if  so, 
wliat  is  necessary  to  be  done  to  accomplish  the  purpose  set 
forth  in  said  Joint  Resolution, 


Rc.jrese:r:.ai:  ions 
jrequires  that 
and  make  the  report  requ 
and  immediate  necessities 


tnat  Ciic  Situation  is  critical 


you  should  proceed  with  the  utmost  dispatch 
eport  required  as  to  the  ptesent  conditions 

by  wire . 


-49- 


You  will  also,  in  this  connection,  :c^]:c   appropri- 
ate exa:nination  upon  the  rround  and  recommend  the  course, 
which,  in  your  opinion,  v/ill  prevent  injury  and  destruction 
of  property  in  the  U.S.,  through  recurrence  of  the  diffi- 
culties which  liave  heretofore  from  time  to  time  arisen, 
"by  reason  Qf  the  unreliability  of  the  Colorado  River . 

For  any  service  or  information,  which  the  Dei^t . 
of  the  Interior,  or  any  of  its  officers,  which' #111 ■ tend 
to  facilitate  your  lahors,  you  will,  of  course,  not  hesi- 
tate to  Liake  requisition. 

Very  respectfully, 

ITrank  Pierce, 

Acting  Secretary" 


The  critical  conditions  described  in  paragraph 
3  and  4  of  letter  of  instructions,  lay  in  the  shortage  of 
water  supply  in  Imperial  Valley,  due  to  soiiie  difficulty  in 
the  intake  at  tiie  river,  and  also  in  the  Imperial  canal, 
belov/  the  headgate.   In  order  to  get  the  earliest  practica- 
ble information,  aS  to  the  relative  elevations  of  the  bed 
of  the  river  and  bottom  of  intake,  the  sill  of  the  head- 
gates  and  bottom  of  the  canal,  I  v/ired  to  the  Project  Yn- 
ginoer,  ?!r .  P.L.  Sellew,  at  Yuma,  requesting  a  survey,  cov- 
ering localities  named,  and  on  my  arrival  at  Yuma,- July 
30th,     results  were  available  for  my  inspection. 

The  plats  showed  clearly  tiiat  the  bed  of  the 
river  was  above  the  sill  of  the  head  gates,  and  lack  of 
water  in  the  canal  was  due  mainly  to  the  silting  up  of 
both  the  intake  and  the  canal.    (See  plate  1.) 

Two  courses  v;ere  open  to  remedy  these  defects. 
'Vi":h  proper  appliances,  the  simplest  plan  would  liavc  been 
to  dredge  out  the  intake.   Indeed,  this  sliould  have  been 
done  imjiiediately  after  the  passage  of  the  sxammer  flood, 
and  in  all  probability  a  disastrous  shortage  of  water 
'voiild  have  been  averted.   Or,  the  v/ater  could  be  raised  to 
such  an  extent,  by  means  of  a  submerged  dam  just  below  the 
intake,  as  to  fill  tbe  canal  without  dredging. 

The  Cal.  Development  Co.,  ^'f.Yi,   Ilolabird ,  Re- 
ceiver, under  date  of  liar.  2,  1910,  secured  from  the  War 
Dept .  a  v/aiver  of  objections  to  the  construction  of  a  temp- 
orary dam.   This  was  renevred  by  the  Dept .  July  20,  1910, 
Triis  rjtructtire  was  befom  in  Feb.,  1910,  but  a  sudden  rise 


-50- 


I 


in  the  rivei'  carried  av/a.y  the  v/ork  tliat.  hud  "been  done  ,  and 
for  the  time  heinp;  it  'taecaine  unnecessary,  on  account  of 
}iir;h  stao:e  of  river,  or  lentil  "f"^  season  of  spring  floods 
had  passed. 

The  type  of  dam,  proposed  Toy  the  Company,  in  its 
application  to  the  War  Dept .  for  a  permit  to  construct  the 
same  across  the  Colorado  River,  which  is  a  na.vigable  stveaxg. 
is  shovn  in  Plate  2. 

A  trestle  is  carried  across  the  river,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  convenience,  as  there  is  no  floating  plant  on  the 
river  available  for  such  construction.   Tlien  the  loed  of 
the  river  is  covered  with  bundled  of  willow  fascines,  about 
forty  ft.  long,  and  weighted  y/ith  stone  and  sviccessive 
layers  used  until  the  necessary  height  is  reached.   This 
inakes  a  satisfactory  submerged  temporary  dam  of  limited 
height,  the  expectation  being  tliat  it  would  be  carried  a^my 
b3'-  floods,  so  as  to  offer  no  hindrance  to  scour  of  bed  at 
high  stages  of  river. 

After  the  Spring  floods  had  passed  and  low  stage 
conditions  of  river  returned,  water  shortage  in  Imperial 
Valley  again  became  serious,  as  shown  by  the  following  tab- 
ulation of  volume  of  water  passing  the  headgates: 

Tiie  difference  in  the  volume  passing  Hanlon's 
heading  and  that  reaching  Imperial  Valley  represents  the 
quantity  diverted  to  irrigation  in  Mexico  and  losses  due  to 
seepage  and  evaporation. 


-51- 


1 


STAT3'2narT   or  the  gal.   ri^T^LOPIiraTT    CO.    sho\7ing  amount    of 
wuter   entering   Concrete  Heading  s.nd  amount  delivered  to 
the   Imperial  Valley,   tlirough  the   Imperial   Canal  System 
from  lliarch  10th  to   Sept.   1st,   1910. 


HAITLON  Rl'ADIHG 


IlIPmiAL  VALLEY 


ilarch 

llin. 
llean 

1500 
1175 
1395 

April 

I'lin. 
Mean 

1689 

950 

1511 

Y^j 

Kin. 
Mean 

1650 
1300 
1427 

June 

Ilax, 
■■'in. 
Mean 

1569 
1420 
1512 

July 

i  :in . 
llcan 

1592 

746 

1120 

August 

?iix. 
Min. 

1651 
811 

.^:-.  14S2 
:iin.  1012 
I.Iean  1374 

1445 
1048 
1307 

1326 

9  71 

1112 

1188 
1061 
1140 

1173 
417 

782 

1113 

395 


It  seems  tliat  1200  to 
to  Satisfy  the  demands  of  the  ar 
and  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
and  for  domestic  use,  as  these  a 
canal  for  their  entire  svpply ,  a 
neither  are  there  any  storage  ta 
an  emergency,  such  as  might  come 
tiiat  v/ould  cut  off  the  entire  wa 
cause  great  suffering  to  the  oec 


1800  sec.ft.  are  necessary 
ea  nov/  under  cultivation 
the  large  herds  of  stock 
re  wholly  dependent  on  the 
s  there  are  no  wells ; 
nks  for  use  in  tiding  over 
from  a  break  in  the  canal, 
supply  for  a  tim.e  and 
pie  and  to  live  stock. 


ter 


In  the  latter  part  of  July,  the  volume  passing 
-.-•_  -.^„„,  ^tes  had  dropped  down  to  746  sec.ft.  and  the  con- 
ditions "became  alarm.ing.   Only  395  sec.ft.  reached  Imperial 
Valley. 


Yumj 
opmen* 


It 
Co 


Such  v;as     ^3tate  of  affairs  on  m^'' 
was  soon  learned,  however,  tlmt  the 


arrival  at 
Cal .  Devcl- 
had  secured  a  dredge,  with  which  to  clear  out 
"  to 

22nd. 


the  deposits   iii  the    intake,   and  had  also   taken   steps 


huild  a    submerged  dam,    on  v/hich  work  v/as  begun  July 

Ey  Aug.    23rd,  a   trestle  was   completed  across  the  river  and 


-52- 


surface 

two  ft. 

he  tops 

of  the 

of  1700 

sec. ft . 

r---  dvjaped  therein  had  raised  the  water 
and  tl'ie  water  in  the  intake  stood  above  1 
head  gates,  giving  a  flow  down  the  canal 

This  dam  was  constructed  "by  dumping  rock  from 
side-duii:p  cars,  until  the  required  height  was  reached,  and 
as  no  fascines  were  used,  it  might  readily  he  carried  he- 
yond  the  point  where  it  could  he  classed  a^s  a  temporary 
structure.   Plate  1  shov/s  the  crest  of  the  dcon  and  the  ele- 
vation of  the  "bed  of  the  river,  ahove  and  helow,  on  Aw. 
23.  A  photograph  of  the  trestle  is  shown  in  plate  3. 

An  interview,  on  Aug.  24th,  .,-...-  prominent  „..-.- 
cials  of  several  of  the  Imperial  Valley  water  companies, 
indicated  that  the  water  supply  was  .adequate  for  all  their 
requirements  and  the  losses  to  the  Valley,  v;hile  of  consid- 
erable proportion,  were  mainly  confined  to  loss  of  the 
corn  crop,  owing  to  lack  of  water  at  planting  time  and  to 
one  or  two  cuttings  of  alfalfa. 

Sliortly  after  my  arriva,l  here,  I  roade  a  tour  of 
the  valley  and  observed  the  condition  of  the  crops  and 
abundant  evidences  of  lack  of  water  were  to  be  seen.   Ilany 
alfalfa  fields  were  dry  to  the  roots  and  but  very  little 
corn  was  in  evidence.   Cotton  appeared  to  be  doing  fairly 
well  and  now  promises  a  good  crop. 

The  effort  of  the  Cal .  Development  Co.  to  secure 
the  necessary  water  supply  to  the  valley,  was  watched  \';ith 
care,  and  as  they  seemed  to  have  the  work  well  in  hj^.nd,  and 
were  energetically  striving  to  reach  the  desired  result  , 
both  by  dredging  and  by  a  submerr^ed  dam,  my  attention  was 
then  turned  to  the  larger  question,  of  how  ti  prevent  Injvxj/ 
and  destruction  of  property,  through  the  recurrence  of  tlie 
difficulties  arising  from  ciianges  in  the  route  of  the  Colo- 
rado river. 

Reports  of  the  foregoing  work  were  wired  to  you 
from  time  to  time,  as  the  work  progressed. 

Tlie  Imperial  Canal,  known  as  the  property  of  the 
Cl.1  .   Development  Co.,  taps  the  Colorado  river  at  a  point 
about  1600  ft.  above  the  International  Boundary  line. 
Prom  this  point,  the  water  flows  in  a  south¥/ester!^y  direc- 
tion for  a  distance  of  about  1500  fit.,  with  a  bottom  width 
of  about  60  ft.  and  100  ft.  wide  at  the  top,  to  the  con- 
crete headgates  about  1000  ft.  North  of  the  International 
Boundary  line.  These  gates  are  said  to  rest  on  bed-rock. 
There  are  11  openings,  12  ft.  wide  and  10  ft.  high  a.nd  a 
navigation  by -pass  12  ft.  wide.   Tiie  estifliated  capacity  of 
the  gates  is  10,000  cu.ft.  per  sec. 


Tlie  elevation  of  tiie  floor,  or  sill,  is  100,9 
.   .lOVc  sea  level,  U.S.R.S.  datxoia,  and  ?/hen  built  in  1906 
it  was  about  5  ft.  "below  tlie  "bed  of  the  river.  As  the 
bed  of  the  river  is  continvuxlly  chanf-ing,  with  even 
slight  changes  of  stage,  it  seems  now  that  the  sill  of  the 
gites  should  have  been  placed  several  feet  lower,  in  order 
to  icaeet  the  probably  lowering  of  the  low  water  plane,  due 
to  the  regulation  of  the  river  and  flood  control,  by  means 
of  levees.   In  fact,  the  bed  of  the  river,  in  June,  1910, 
was  10-1/2  ft.  below  the  sill  of  headgates , . the  water  sur- 
face being  5  ft.  above  the  top  of  the  gates,  Yuma  gage 
reading  22  ft.   After  leaving  the  headgates,  the  water 
flows  through  a  canal  for  a  distance  of  about  4  miles, 
wjiere  it  enters  the  old  bed  of  Alam.o  river,  a  high  water 
channel,  foriiierly  empt^'ing  into  the  Salton  basin.   It  r.mkes 
a  detour  to  the  southward  into  Mexico,  on  account  of  a  hi^ 
sandy  mesa,  which  prevents  carrying  the  water  to  Imperial 
Valley  throug^i  tJ,S ,  territory.  This  old  channel,  on  Mexi- 
can soil,  measures  about' 44.2  miles  in  length  and  reaches 
a  maximiiia  distance  of  about  9  miles  southward  of  the  Inter- 
Tittional  Boundary.   It  crosses  back  to  the  U.S.  at  a  point 
of  34.3  miles  from  tiie  Colorado  River,  as  measured  on  the 
Boundary  line.   Tlie  nuiin  canal  crosses  boundary  41,5  miles- 
from  river,  making  total  distance  in  llexico  about  50  miles, 
Ikch  cultivated  acre  is  entitled  to  4  acre  ft.  per  annian. 
Tlie  capacity  of  tliis  Ilain  Canal  at  present  is  about  1800 
sec. ft.,  and  it  served  this  year  203,246  acres  of  land  in 
Iraperial  Valley,  Gal.,  and  22,000  acres  in  Mexico,   The 
mean  velocity  of  flow  in  the  canal  is  reported  to  be  from 
1.5  to  over  3  ft.  per  sec.   Tlie  distance  from  the  concrete 
headgate  to  Slu^rps  Heading  is  53  :;:iles  and  the  total  fall 
between  the  sills  of  the  two  gates  is  75.5  ft.,  giving  an 
average  slope  of  1.5  ft.  per  mile.   Por  alignment  of  canal, 
sec  'nap  herewith. 

In  lay  opinion,  the  shortage  of  water  could  liave 
been  avoided  by  the  use,  earlier  in  the  season,  both  in 
the  intake  and  the  canal  proper,  of  an  efficient  type  of 
dredge  of  the  proper  capacity. 

This  only  applies  to  ^^l<^   ^j^v_,o^.-o  uo.su.t,nd  for 
water.   Should  the  deiiiand  largely  increase,  as  now  seems 
inevitable,  it  v;ill  be  necessary  to  reconstruct  the  main 
cana!).  on  more  efficient  lines  both  as  to  section  and  slope, 
?/liether  this  is  done  or  not,  the  safety  of  the  valley  re- 
quires tliat  the  various  wooden  controlling  works  be  replac- 
ed at  an  early  day  with  substazitial  concrete  structures, 
V/ithout  such  enlargement  and  reconstruction,  the  great  out- 
lay necessary  le  supply  from  Laguna  Dam  v/ould  not 
be  justified. 


-5^ 


^ 


An  extension  of  the  intake  to  Laguna  Dam  would 
serve  to  definitely  fix  the  source  of  supply  Toeyond  any 
pro'Daole  danger  thereto  and  a  maiji  canal  could  he  carried 
therefrom,  v/hich  would  serve  loany  acres  in  the  liigher 
lands,  '"  ich  arc-    ~ve  the  reach  of  the  present  system. 

The  Iiaguna  daia,  being  merely  a  weir,  does  not 
serve  the  purpose  of  storing  water  and  hence  would  liave 
no  value  for  conserving  the  hif-h  stage  supply. 


Tlie  extreme  lov/ 


3X-*- 
date 


IS 


Yiima  ,  up  1 0 

1903,    fortunately  a 


2594 

the   season 


water  is  needed.  The  Yunia  Valley  project  covers  so: 
190,000  acres,  and  the  Imperial  Valley,  v/-hicii  can  h 
reached   from  present    intake,  ahovit    400,000  acres. 


water   discliarge,  raeasured  at 
sec. ft.      This   occurred   in  Ja,n. 
of  the  year  when  little 

ome 

,  ahovit    400,000  acres. 


Then,  South  of  the 
river,  in  Mexican  territory, 
cream  of  the  Colorado  Delta, 
productive  with  a  good  water 
and  their  holdings   in  Mexico 


tne 


Boundary  lint,  ^.  .a  West  of 
lies  860,000  acres  of  the 
which  could  he  loade  highly 
supply,   Tlie  principal  owners 
are  as  follows: 


Tiie 
observations  a 
Colorado  River 


following  va.vli 
t  Yxnna 


!£,  v^.viv.  j.-v^.s,  from  the  disclxarge 
,  the  available  v/ater.  su5)ply  in  the 
,  without  storage ,  and  the  area  tliat  could 
be  irrigated  therewith,  if  drawn  upon  as  needed  and  utili- 
zed without  waste: 


This  table  slxows  tiiat  there  is  sufficient  water 
xi.  .-Lu  x^ver,  during  even  the  low  stages,  to  supply  sever- 
al tiiaes  the  area  now  under  cultivation.   It  is  based  on 
the  monthly  average  of  water  used  in  Yuxiia  Valley  irriga- 
tion, per  acre,  the  total  required  for  the  year  being  es- 
timated at  5-1/2  acre  feet ,  v/hich  covers  evaporation  and 
other  losses. 

The  following  table  gives  the  monthly  discharge 
for  the  years  1903  to  1909 ,  inclusive ,  the  total  acre 
feet  per  month,  and  year,  and  ''  •  n:eans  "--    lonths  and 
♦  years. 


It  indicates  clearly  thao  ^he   anniial  supply  of 
'fratex    is  sufficient  to  irrigate  the  itiajor  portion,  if  not 
all,  of  the  entire  Colorado  Delta,  if  adequate  storage 
^  provided. 


-35- 


An  exliaustive  study  of  the  wliole  question  of  t'n.e 
conservation  of  the  flood  waters  of  the  Colorado  water- 
shed and  the  economic  use  of  the  I^aguna  dam,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  irrigation  of  the  Colorado  delta.,  should  he 
taken  up  without  further  delay*-  It  will  require  consider- 
able time  to  do  this  properly  and' it  is  none  i;oo  soon  to 
hegin. 

The  tr>^.-.-^..^  ^..^.^rienced  in  Iraperial  V.^lley, 
under  present  conditions,  are  very  largely  due  to  lack  of 
capital  for  the  needed  preliminary  investigations  and  for 
the  design  and  construction  of  proper  and  economic  works, 
for  the  diversion  and  control  of  the  v/ater  from  the  Colo- 
rado River.  Exception  should  he  i;ia.de  to  the  concrete  head 
gates,  wliich  are  apparently  serv'"^'  t^'C  --,--:T-,oap  -^or  ^■•^■lich 
they  were  designed. 

The  developiiient  of  Iraperial  Valley  lias  "been 
little  short  of  raap;ical.  Within  a  decade  it  Irns  changed 
from  a  barren  desert  to  highly  productive  fields,  orc.iards 
and  vineyards,  occupied  by  a  thrifty  people  some  15,000 
in  niAmber. 

i-.rivj.rig  towns  dot  the  valley,  in  v/hicji  ui^y  ue 
seen  large,  well-appointed  school  buildings,  substantial 
business  houses  and  comfortable  homes,  all  proclairaing 
tliiit  this  development  is  not  ephemeral,  and  under  proper 
co^Hiitions ,  the  prospects  for  the  future  are  exceedingly 

The  extraordinary  fertility  of  the  soil  results 
in  greatly  increasing  demands  for  more  and  more  area  under 
cultivation,  with  large  increase  in  the  ai;iount  of  water 
required  therefor.   But,  to  continue  this  rapid  expansion 
of  cultivation  v/ithout  insuring  an  ample  water  supply,  by 
i.ieans  of  better  control  of  intake  and  more  adequate  main 
canal  and  controlling  v/orks,  is  to  Invite  troubles  greater 
tiian  have  yet  come  to  them. 

v/'ith  the  assurance  of  such  prolific  returns  ,  it 
does  not  seem  probable  that  this  opportunity  of  practical 
conservation  vrill  long  be  neglected. 

The  control  of  the  course  of  the  Colorado  River, 
for  the  purpose  of  Protecting  Lands  and  Property  in  the 
Lr.perial  Valley,  and  elsd7/hore,  alonp-  tlie  Colorado  River, 
viTithiri  the  limits  of  the  U.o. 


-56- 


SUP.V7YS  A:n)_  EKAI-nK-ATIOUS. 

In  oteclience  go  one  lourui  paragraph,  of  your 
instructions  to  ";jiake  appropriate  examination  upon  the 
£:round  and  reooiUinend  the  course,  which,  in  your  opinion, 
"will  prevent  injury  and  destruction  of  property  in  the  U.S. 
throuf;h  the  recurrence  of  the  difficulties  which  have 
heretofore  from  time  to  time  arisen,  "by  reason  of  the  un- 
rclialDility  of  the  course  of  the  Colorado  river,"  a 
survey  party  was  organized,  which  reached  the  field  and 
v/ent  into  camp  near  the  International  "boundary  line,  on 
Aug.  15th. 

Great  difficulty  was  experienced  in  securing  com- 
petent men  to  serve  under  conditions,  of  extreme  heat  and  at 
a  point  remote  from  habitations  and  travelled  hip:hways. 

Equipment  and  teajas  were  secured  from  the  Rec- 
i^.-^..ion  Service  at  Yiu:ia ,  and  a  supply  line  was  estahlish- 
ed ,  in  order  to  minimise  the  discomforts  of  the  heated 
season  as  far  as  practicahle. 

The  party  consisted  of  J.C-.  Moirgan,  Chief  of 
party,  R.B,  Bay,  transit-cian ,  L.I*.  Tripp,  levelman,  four 
rodnen,  cook  und  6  Cocopah  Indian  Axemen. 

SURVEYS  1. 


The  instrumental  survey  with  tertiary  triangula- 
tion  and  stadia  covered  the  Colorado  River  from  a  point 
about  6  miles  below  the  concrete  iieadgates  at  Hanlons  down 
to  the  Abejas  river  break  and  thence  down -the  dry  bed  to 
v/ithin  about  20  miles  of  tide  water,  a  total  distance  by 
river  of  about  35  miles.   The  survey  was  also  extended 
do-m  the  Abejas  river  a  distance  of  5  miles.   It  includes 
the  location  of  both  bank  lines  with  elevations  thereon  aid 
with  cross-sections  in  the  Abejas  and  the  dry  bed  of  the 
Colorado  river.  A  line  was  also  cut  through  the  timber 
and  brush  along  near  the  west  bank  of  the  Colorado,  approx- 
imating as  near  as  practicable  the  site  of  the  proposed 
levee  and  extends  tlie  entire  length  of  the  survey. 

Levels  were  carried  over  this  line  and  an  accu- 
rate profile  thereof,  lias  been  developed.  Tlie  distances 
\7ere  jfieasured   :' ' '  steel  tape. 

The  notes  of  this  survey  have  been  platted  on  a 
scale  of  one  inch  to  1000  ft.   On  this  map  the  route  of 
the  proposed  levee  and  the  crossing  of  the  Abejos  river 
iiave  been  projectsd  and  this  will  constitute  the  v/orking 
plan  for  construction  work.  Profiles  of  the  lines  leveled 
over  iiave  also  been  platted  for  the  purpose  of  deteriainiiTg 
the  lieight  of  levee  req.uired  and  estimating  the  cubic  yards 
of  earth  therein. 


-5  7- 


SURYTT/S    2. 

Several   sections   of  tlie  Alsejas  were  also  platted 
on  a  lar<?;e   scale   for  the  purpose  of   selecting  the  >.est   site 
for  the   crossing  and   for   estima.ting  the   quantity  of  xaater- 
ii'.l   required   for   trestle  b.nc\  the   rock   fill. 

The   surveys  were   coidpleted  on  Oct,   4  add   covered 
a  period  of  42  v;orking  days   in  the  field   —  v/hich  is  an  ex- 
ceedingly good  record  when  we  consider  tliat   tlie  work  was 
done  during  the  hottest   part    of  an  unusually  hot    season, 
llany  who  are  accustomed  to   the   climate  declared   in  the  he-  . 
-i'    -'ing  that   survej''  of  the  lower   Colorado  River  dviring  the 
.r, -i.er  fuonths  was    impracticable. 

Ilr.  Hornan,  his  assistants  and   the   Cocopah   Indi- 
an Axemen  all  deserve   credi't   for   carrying  the  v/ork  to  a 
successful   conclusion  under  such  trying  conditions. 

In  addition  to  the   instrumental   survify^ ^Examination 
rreve  -nide  hy  myself  of  the  Colorado  river  from  Yuma  down 
for  a   distance   of    some   40  miles;      the  Ahejas  river   from  the 
Colorado  river  d07m    several  miles;      of  the  IL^rdy  river   frcja 
F!ource  at  Volcano  lake   to    its   junction  v/ith  the  dry  hed 
or   tae   Colorado;      the  lower  portion  of  the  Pescadero  river; 
Salt   Slough;      Hew  river  and   the  Alamo,      Tlie  water    in  the 
Hardy  river,  which  now  carries  the   entire  volume  of  the   Col- 
orado, vras   found  to  he  practically   clear,   the    sediment  hav- 
ing been   eliminated   in   its   passage   down  the  Ahejas  river  to 
Volcano  Lake, 

SURVEYS    5, 

Examinations  were  also  jiu.\de ,  covering  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  the  various  canals  and  headings  of  the 
Gal.  Development  Co.,  together  with  a  general  view,  of  a 
large  part  of  the  irrigated  portion  of  Imperial  Valley  and 
f"^  rif^lta  south  of  the  International  Boundary  Line  in  Ilexi- 
ot  . 

The  records  of  \,.^^   .-^ox.,. ^u.tion  Service  at  Yx;iraa 
liave  been  fully  drawn  upon  for  facts  relating  to  stage  and 
discharge  of  the  Colorado  river  and  were  of  great  service 
in  t''^   '^+udy  of  t'i'°  ■^■^oblems  relating  to  flood  control. 

Pir/SICAL  CI-IARACTERISTICS  OE  THE  L0TF31  COLORADO  RIVER. 

Tlie  geological  history  of  the  Salton  basin  and 
t;i'j   UJ.J::.. tion  of  the  Colorado  delta  have  been  discussed  so 
fully  of  late  years  tluit  it  is  deeined  best  to  confine  this 
report  to  the  salient  features,  which  bear  directly  on  the 
-•""■l^nlar  prob:' - --  -n  '•:--". 


-58- 


The   lower   Colorado   river  lias  the   ustuil   cliarac- 
teristics    of    sedimentary   streams,   althou/xh  some   of   tiie 
features   of   its  regimen  are  accentiiated ,    such  as  the  per- 
centage  of   sediraent ,   the   slope,   the  very  fine  iiiaterial  com- 
posing  its  "oed  and  hanks,  and  the    extreme   elevation  of    its 
delta  ahove  Salt on  basin.      The  ratio   of   sediment   to  water 
is  1  to   363,  vfhile   in  the  Mississippi  river  this  ratio   is 
1  to   1500.      Th.e   total  anntial  volume   of    sediiaont  amounts   to 
53   sqiiare  miles   one  foot   deep. 

Tlie  iiiaterial   of   tlie  Led   is   so    easily   eroded  tliat 
its   elevation  hecomes  a  function  of  the   stage,  while  no 
fixed  relation  hetweon   stage  and  volume   of  disciiarge   can  "be 
traced.      Por    instance,    in  June,   1904,   at  a   stage   of  126.3, 
the  disclmrge  measured  50,000   sec. ft.,  while  at  the   same 
stage    in  Dec.,   1908,    the  discharge  was   72,000   sec.ft. 

The  river   flows   on   the    crov/n  of  an   elevated  del- 
ta,  having  an  area    of  about   3600   square  miles.      It  has  a 
slope   of  about   2.6   ft.   per  mile,    tovrard  the   Gulf   of   Cali- 
fornia,  and   lids   some   400   ft.   above   the  bottom  of  the  adja- 
cent  Salt  on  basin,  which  gives  very   steep   slopes   to   the 
westward   for   the   overbanlc   discliarge   during  floods,   and  the 
tendency  to   leave      its  bed   for   one   of   the  high  water   out- 
lets, with   its   steeper   slope,    is   continixally  present.     Dee 
'Tip  herewith. 

The    slope   toward   the   eastv/ard  mesa,    is  about   2 
f ..    ^-or  iiiile.      The   diief  high  water   outlets,    or    channels, 
which  under  normal    stages  are  dry,  are   the  Alamo,   now  occu- 
pied by   the   Imperial  Valley   canal,   the  Paredonis,  Abejas 
and  the  Pescadero.      The  ITew  river   occupied  the  thalweg  to 
the  westward   of  the   delta  and  flows   in  a  No rtli westerly  di- 
rection to   the  Salton  Sink,   or   in  a   southwesterly  direction 
to  Volcano   Lake,  and   thence   to   t-ie   Gulf,   via   the  Hardy 
river,   according  to   the  magnitude   of  the   overflow.      North 
of  Volcano   Lake,    it   is  a   dry  bed  with  little   or   no  water 
except    such  as  iiiay  reach   it    through  the  Paredonis  at    over- 
flow  stages   of  the   Colorado  river,    or  v/ater   from  the  waste 
gates  near  llexicali.     At   the  present   time,  flow  to   the 

P-'-^^^ward    is   cut    off  l-j  c.   l----. 

The  average   flood   slope   of  the  river  from  Yuma 
to   tidev/ater   of  the   Gulf   of   California    is  about  1,6   ft.   per 
mile,    estiir.ating  tlie  distance   from  Yuma  at   80  miles  by 
river,  v/hile  the  average   slope  from  the  river,  along  the 
Alaiiio  and  ITew  rivers,   to   Salton   sink   is  about   3.5   ft.    per 
laile ,   but   tliis  latter   slope   is  not  uniformly  distributed, 
and  in  places  is  much  in  excess  of  this  figure.      Tliese  vari- 
ous  si  "    *  -   are    S'lov/n   in  n   general  v;ay   on  plate   4. 

The  havoc  created  by  the  river   In  1906,  when  it 
flov;ed  down  this  very   steej;    slope,    tlirough  material    so 
easily   eroded,    is   sufficient  warning  tliat    strenuous  meas- 
ures  should  be  used  to  prevent    such  catastrophes   in  the 
future,        Imperi   "!    "  lley   can  never  be   safe    in   the   face   of 


-59- 


such  menace,  until  anple  v/orks  are   erected  to   confine   tlrie 
flood  Waters  to  narrow  limits  along  the  river  proper.     An 
interesting  e3dii'bit    of  the   development    of   the   Salton   Sea 
is    shovm   in  hydropraphic  plate    7. 

Records   of   stage  have  Leen  kept    contiiiuously  at 
YuiUci    since  1S78,      The   lovrest    sta;";e  recorded  to   date  was    in 
October,   1879,   ?/he::.  .    ,       113.2   ft.   above    sea   level. 

The  hifjhest    stage   recorded  was   on  Peb .    26,   1891, 
\v}ien  the  cage  read  133.2  ft.  above   sea  level.      This  gives 
the    extreme   range    in   stage  at  Yuina    since   gage  was   estab- 
lished as   20  ft. 

Regular   disc-iurge  measurenonts  were   inaugurated 
the  U.S.   Reclamation  Service    in  1903.      Since   tliat    time, 
the  lov/est  volume  measured  was   on  Jan.   12,   1903,   ^i^ien  the 
river   carried  but    2694   cu.ft.   per    sec,  with  gage   reading 
15.8   f t . 

The   largest  volume   recorded  v/as   on  June   24,   1909, 
when  the   flood  reached  149500   cu.ft.   per    sec,,   with  gane 
reading  130.7  ft. 

The   oscillation   of   the  bed,    incidental   to   changes 
of  stage,    is   shown  in  plate   5,  where   it  v/ill  be   seen  tliat 
the   elevation  of  the  lov/  v/ater  bed  at   the  discharge   station 
at  Yuma,   on  Dec.   16,   1908,  was  113.5   ft.   at   the   deepest 
part,   v/hile  during  the  following  great   flood   of  1909,    the 
bed  \Tas    scoured  down  to  an   elevation  of   77.2  ft.   above   sea 
level   —  a  difference  of   some   36.3  ft.      In  this  vvay,   the 
streiun  readily  adjusts   itself  to   the  volume  v/liich   it    is  re- 
quired  to    carry   if   confined   to  a   fixed   channel. 

The   Col*6rado  river  lias   t'lc  usual   cliaract eristics 
of   sedimentary   streams   of   great    slope.      T/ie  high  water    clian- 
iiel   ranges   from  1000   to   3o5o   ft.    or  more    in  width,   and   is 
quite   siiallow,   v/hile   the   low  water   channel   is    500  to  1000 
ft.   v/ide ,  and  wanders  over   the  whole  range   of  the  high  wat- 
er bed.      The  high  v/ator  bed    is  more   or   less   obstructed  virith 
vegetation,  \7hich   springs  up   in  the   interval  between  floods. 
T.-.e  high  water  bank,  vmich  lies  along  the   concave   side    of 
the   stream,    is  usLially  well-defined  and  nearly  vertical, 
6   to   8  f t .    in  heifiht.      Tlie   opposite  bank   is   often  quite 
indefinite . 


J. : :.  u 


•ecs  along  the  banks  are  in  many  cases  bur- 
ied in  the   deposits  for  several  feet  in  depth,  and  tl^e 
roots  of  smaller  grow'th  also  extend  well  dovm.  The  upper 
adobe  soil,  from  2  to  6  ft.  thick,  or  sometimes  even  more, 
is  filled  with  cracks,  through  which  water  readily  finds 


-60- 


In   order   to    construct  levees   tliat   will  "be  reas- 
omaoly   safe,    it    is   evident   tiiat   l^otli  roots  and   cracked    soil 
must  "be    carefully   eliminated,   by  means   of  laudc  ditches   of 
le  depth.      Tlie.lack   of   this  precaution   is  responsiole 

•   tiie  failure,   which^odurred  a   fev/, hundred  feet  "below  the 

Hind  dam  which  liad   successfvilly   closed  the  "break   of  1905-6. 

Tlie    banks  adjacent    to   the   river  are    covered  with 
a  dense   p-rov/th  of  vrillows,   arrow  weed  and    some    cottonwocd 
trees  of  moderate   size. 

* 

TTo    coarse    sand   or    f:ravel   is   fovind   on  the  low 
water  hars,  wl-.ich  are    composed  very  largelj'   of  fine   silt. 


FLOOD    CPy^TROL  BY  IITAITS    OP  LKVEES . 


x—^,  o    L..-C   river    is    excieodinrly  ui;ic;iiu"ble   to  con- 
trolling v/orks  is   shown  by   its  action  in  the  reach  from 
Yi;ima  down-stream,   for  a  distance   of  25  miles,   v.here  the 
flood   control   is   ef-'--^-'-    -'   '■-  ineans   of  levees,   as   shov/n   on 
map  herev/ith. 

The   left   bank  levee,    for   12  miles  dovm,  was    con- 
structed  in  1905,   and   the   levee   on   the   OTjposite  barik  was 
constructed  by  the.Cal.  Development   Co.,    in  1906-7, 

It   'vTill  be   noticed   that   these   levees  are   less 
trian  1500   ft.   apart  belovr  the   concrete  headgates,   yet   the 
greit   flood   of  1909  was   Cci.rried   tlirough  witholit    endanprering 
the  levees  a,nd  with  little  increase   in  the   flood  height 
above  the  higher  natural  banks.     The   confined  flood   eroded 
the  bed  to   the   extent  required  to  sitike  room  for  the   in- 
cres^sed   flood  volume,   and   this   too  v/ithout  any   effort  at 
bank  protection  on  either  side. 

After   the   flood   of  1910,    the   left   bank  levee  v/as 
breeched  by  bank   erosion  at  a  point  about  12  miles  below 
Yuma.      Tl^.e  record   for    stability/  will,  however,    compare 
favorably  with   similar   structures  on  more   stable   streams, 
partictilarly  when   the    close  proximity  of  the  levees   to   the 
river   is   taken  into  account. 

The   effect   of  an  extension  of  the  levee   system 
will  be  to   lower  the   low  v/ater  plans,  v/hereas  a   tendency  to 
elevate   this  plane,   due   to  advancement   of  delta    into   the 
sea,   the  depletion  of   the  river  by   irrigation   outlets  and 
other   causes,  may   easily   counter-balance   the   lowering  ten- 
c^r-nrr.r   of   Icvecs    in  the   c^n-^^"   of  time. 

So   there  does  not    seem  to  be  any  great   obstacle 

ir'  ;..;■■   of   construct  j'"-'  c.--^.    . ..  ^  >nH .. -ivi^,,^  ^.^^  adequate 


-61- 


levee    system,   \ -iic^i  v/ouia  iJi-cvcnt   tlie  river   from  endanger- 
ing the   Iraperial  Valley  and   other  portions   of  the  delta 
and    .Tould   confine   the   flood  wtiters   closely  to  -ligh 

water  "bed   of  the   river.     A  levee   located  a   reasoiiable   dist- 
ance from  the  westerly  "bends  would  probaloly  remain   intact 
for   some  time.      If  a  levee  had  been  "built    in  1893  from  the 
intake   down  to  Arizona -Mexico   line,   \vith  a   loce.tion  3000 
ft.  West    of   the  Westerly  "Dends,    it  v/ould  be    intact   to-day, 
so   far  ^-nk   erosion    is   concerned. 

Llainteriaiice    of   levees  necessarily  means,   not    only 
keeping  up  at  all  times  the   section  of  the  levee,   freeing 
it  from  weeds  and  brush,  and  keepinn  it   free  from  burrov;ing 
aniin;..ls,   but    the   erosion   of  river  bank  must  be   checked 
whenever   it  threatened  to  breach  the  leve-e;      or,    if  found 
to  be  ;aore    economical    in   special    cases,   build  a  loop  around 
the   threatened  break  before  a   flood   can  take  possession  of 
:.:d    submerge   the  adjacent   land. 

-^--    ..-.J.    that   the  river   shifts  about    so   readily, 
to    escape   even  a    comparativelj'-   sli{5;ht   obstruction,    is    suf- 
ficient  evidence  tliat   it  would  yield  readily  to  proper 
treatment,      Tlie  banks  are   not  hifh  and   the   depths  are    small 
both  of  which  favor  economy   in   construction  of  bank  projec- 
tion.       Faintenance   can  be    secured  by  vigilance,   rather 
t}'.a.n  "by   extraordirary   expenditures   of  mone3r. 


CHAITGES    Ih  ALIGKICET^T   0?  RIVFR. 


Bo,iik   ex'osioii   on   the   lov/er    Color^u.^   ^-...r    is 
_te  active,  and   is  doubtless  accentuated  by  the  escape 
over   the  bank,   at   flood   stages,   v/}iich  serves   to  develop   ob- 
structions below  the   outlets   of    such  cliaractei-   that    it    is 
easier   for   the  water   to  pass  around   them  than  to   remove 
and  a  route   is  developed  along  nev/  lines. 

1  \uid    shows  many   evidences   of   these   clianges. 

The   comparative   stability   of  the  banks  along  the  upper  por- 
tion of  tiie  delta,  vriiere  levees  liave  been  effective   in   _ 
cutting  off  flood   escape,    s\;rgests  that   like   treatment"  Of 
the  lower  portion  v/ould   ^ring  similar  results. 

Plate  6   shows  the  right   or  west    bank   shore  lines 
of  the   surveys  of   several  years  and  illustrates  tlio   extent 

It  Will  be  noticed,   if.  tjae   earlier   surveys  be 
given   consideration,    tiiat   t>Le  movement    of  the  river  lias 
been  largely  to   the   Eastward,  and   this   confirms   to   some 
extent  the   suggestion  heretofore  made,   that  the  moveiiient  is 
i;  fluences  by   outlets,  all    of  whic}i  flow  to   the  Westward. 


-r^2- 


The   c^^^-^y    survc.^-;^    ..^^-j   not    connectea    .r^^.'si  defi- 
nite points  that    can  nov/  he   identified,   and.  it    is  hclieved 
tlicit   t}).eir  v/ide  diverf^ence  frora  the   later   surveys   is  due  ^ 
to   errors   in  azimuth,   and   tliat    such  radical   cliange   in  the 
position  of  t}ie  river,   as   shown,    could  not  liave   ocairred. 

Some   of   t_^   V  a.ff erences   c...o..'i.  u.re  aouotless   due 
to  differences   in  stage  at  vmicli  the   surveys  were  iiiade, 
the    oluff  banks   of   tiie  Westerly  hends  heing  the   only   lines 
aloi''.^    r-  -;..-.    ^^^■•rv,^risons   of  value   can  h-^     ■:.de. 


CHAl'IGE   IH  LOW  WATER  PLAHE. 


A   com^iarison   of   tji<j   c<-<.li^  .i-cXi^Ci^s  uc    Yiunc. ,   using 
ten  year  periods,   "beginninr;  vrith  1878,    shoY/s  thi.it   the  aver- 
age low  water  plane,   v  ..^ tier  part   of  1909,  lias 
gradvially  risen: 

Average   elevation  of  lov;  v/ater-plane   1878-89-114-5   ft, 

do  1890-99-116.5      " 

do  1900-09-117.4      " 

(See  hydropi-  'ch). 

A  reuiarkahle  exception  is,  however,  to  he  noted  in  the  low 
water-plane  at  the  end  of  the  year  1909,  follovfing  the 
great  flood  of  tliat  year.   It  was  3.5  ft.  lov;er  tlian  any  of 
the  six  preceeding  years,  including  the  years  of  the  c^eat 
Colorado  river  break.   It  was  lower  t-ian  any  of  the  pre- 
ceding twenty  years  by  1,7  ft.,  and  lower  than  any  of  the 
precedtkng  thirty  years,  excepting  onlj'-  the  years  1879,  18f)3 
and  -  "  - '■      ■"   first  of  v;hich  was  still  lower  by  0.8  of  a 


.f 


0  0-. 


This  lowering  of  the   lovr  water   plane   in  1909  has 
.-   .-  w,"-.ributed  to  a,    "cutting  back"   from  the  break    in  tJie 
Colorado  river,   which  now  flows  dovm  the  Abejas  river. 
This   is   evidently  a  mistake.      Tliese    ir   no   eA^idence   of  any 
cutting  back   in  the  main  river,   following  the  breaks   of 
1905-6,  which  were  much  nearer   to   the  Yuma   gaging  station, 

Tlien  too   the   fact    ^- ../„   ^-revious  years   show   even 
lower   lov/  \7ater  planes  -.without  any   great  breaks   in  the   river 
indicate   that    soiioe    other   cause  must   lie    sought. 

Since  the  last  ten  year  period   shows  an  average 
elevation   of   the   low  water  plane   of   2.9  ft.   above   that   of 
the   firfit   ten  year  period,    the   depression  at   the   end   of 
1909  becomes  mucli  more  K'iirked   than  any  th-at  have  previously 
occurred   since   record   of   stage  began. 


-53- 


Tv/o  higher   floods    tr^an  tliat    of   1909  liave  "been  re- 
corded,   one   in  1891,   and   the    other   in  1905,   but  they  were 
of  very  short  duration,  and  it    is  altogether  prohahle  tiiat 
the  iiiaximuia  discharge   of  1909,   v/hich  reached  149,500    sec, 
ft.,    exceeded   in  YOliurie  any   of   f!"^-   -f^:)  oods    of  +h--     revious 
thirty  years. 

T-.o   ..  ^w^c.    of   1000  v,^^s    ^--v,    x'lrst   to    ve   ^..i^  ^...enced 
by   the  Laguna  dam  and   its  basin,    covering   some  ten   square 
miles,  which  was   completed   in    -..'-e    spring   of  tliat  year. 

The   flood  \Tater  was    stored   to    such  an   extent  as 
to  leave  a    considerable  portion  of   the   sedijfnent   therein 
before  moving  on  dowii  the   river.     With  a   lighter   load  and 
higher   flood  velocity,   unusual    scouring  effect   on  the   bed 
and  banks  might   be    expected.      This,    coupled  r/ith  the  un- 
usvial  ms,gnitude   of  the   flood,   and   the   effect   of  the  levees 
which   confined   it   to      the   clia,nnel ,   readily  account   for   the 
excessive  depressioii  of  the   bed,  which  was   followed  by  the 
"" " ^   -  ''lane  . 

Unfortunately'',   no    sediment   observations  were  made 
at  Yij  u„   during  the   flood   of   1909,   and   this  means   of  veri- 
fying the  assumed   influence   of  the  Laguna  basin  is  not  avail- 
able , 


LOV/ERIITG   0?  BKD  OP  RIYJiR  DUE  TO    "CUTTING  BACK". 


Th^tt    ohere  has  been  no    cutting  back   from  the 
Abejas  river  during  the    suircner   of  1910   is   clearly   sho"'n  by 
the   slope  diagram  plate   8,   the  elevations  for  which  were 
taken  at   frequent    intervals   follov/ing  the   flood   of  1910. 
Tlie    Colorado   river  proper  was   left   dry  for   the   first   tirae 
1;-    Sept.,   1909,   due  to   the  Abejas  break,  vmich  developed 
as  a  permanent   outlet  with  the   flood   of  tliat  year. 

Superficial  observations  in  the  vicinity  of  where 
the    cliannel  h-as  abandoned   its   old  bed   for  a  new  route  with 
a   steeper    slope,   are  apt   to   give  an   exarrerated   idea    of   the 
depression  of  the  new  bed. 

T- _    ,,^,.-;e    in  the   direction  of  flov/  occrurs  at  a 
high,  atage   of  river,  when  the  beds  of  both  streams  are   ele- 
vated above   the   normal,   and  the   effect   of  the   outlet    is   to 
contribute   still  larger  deposits  to   the  bed   of  the  deplet- 
ed   fitream,   due  to  a  diminished  velocity  therein. 

After   the   low  water    stage    is  reached,    it    is   seen 
that   the  dry  water  bed   is   several  feet  above  the  bed   of  the 
f leaving   stream  and  this   is  generally  given  as  the  measure 
of   trie    ciitting  down   of   the  bed  at   tliat   point,   due  to   the 
outlet.      This,  however,    is  not   the   case.      If  the  river  had 


-64- 


continued   to   flow   in   its    „..:..   .;ed,    it  would   itself  i:^ .  o    .^een 
cut  down  decidedly  with  the  advent    of  low  water,    following 
the   law  of  ull    sedimentary    streams.      The  best  tangible 
neasure   of  the  lov^ering  of  the  bed   is  the  relative  heights 
above  water   surface,   of  the  average  high  water  banks,    im- 
mediately above  and  below  the  point   of  diversion.      The 
lower   portion  of  the  dry  bed  at   the  break   is   only   3   ft. 
above   the   present   low  water    stirface. 

Tlie   ^-w:.- .. ..on   of    ,...o    :,.:...■  ^■..:.   flo\/ing   over  a   ne'.v  and 
steeper   slope  v/ill  ultimately  reach  a  grade   commenstirate 
with  tiie  material   in  vrtiich   it   flows,   and  the  proportion  of 
sediment  which   it    carries  and   the  normal   slope   of   the    stream 
will  be   equalized,   both  by   filling  and  raising  up  the   lov/er- 
end   of   the   steeper   portion  and  the   cutting  back  for  an   in- 
determinate distance  upstream.      In  the    case   of  the  present 
break,   the   steep  portion  of  the   slope   is   largely  nevitra- 
lized  by   excessive   curvature    in  the   stream  and  by   sediiaent 
deposition  along   the   lower   reaches   thereof. 

The  Cutting  back  if  it  reached  the  Colorado  might 
^x.  w....\..xe  cases  easily  depress  the  lov/  v;ater  plane  to  suda 
an  extent  at  the  Irapcrial  Cunal  intake  as  to  leave  the  sill 
of  the  h.eadgates  above  v;ater. 

This  would,  of  cotirse,  be  disastrous  to  the  pres- 
ent \Torks   for    supplying  water   to   Iiaperial  Valley.      ITo    stich     ^ 

danger   from  the  Abejas   is    imminent    so   long  as  the  flovr  is 
tov/ard  the   Gulf   oT   California. 

Even  this    could  be  remedied   in  time  by   construct- 
ing new  controlling  works  e-nd  headgates  xTith  a  much  lower 
sill  at  a   point  about  a  mile,   or   so,  above  the  present 
'wgabes,   where   the  river  washes   the   foot   of  bluffs   of 

le  material.      The   proposed   gates   to  be   served  with  water 
direct   from  the   river  v.'ithout   the  use   of  an   intake  which 
serves  as  a    catch  basin  for   drift   and    silt. 

To  make   this  position   secure,    the   left  bank   of 
the   riYur   should  be   fixed  by  means   of   suitable   revetment; 
or,   the    intake  might   be    carried   to  Laguna  Dam,   as  h-<;t,s   often 
been  discussed. 


EEIT^CT   OF  OUTLETS   OR  BREAKS  ?^IICH  RETIJRIT  TO    TIDFV^ATl-Tl. 

Any  diversion  of  the    Colorado   river   tiiat   occurs 
80  far  below  the  head   of  the  Delta  as  to   carry   its  waters 
to   the   Gxilf   of   California,    even  v/ith  a    slope  much  above 
the  noi'inal  ,■  for  a  fev/  miles,    ca.n  have  little  or  no   injuri- 
ous effect   on  tl^e  Laguna  dam,  as   sudi  minor   cutting  back  if 
any,    could  readily  be  arrested  at  Yuma,  where  a  lii:.rd  stratum 


-65- 


1:.  be  found  not   fur  telow  tlie  laigh  water  bed.      Tlie   cost 

of  such  a  defensive  structure  woiild  "be  nominal ,  as  com- 
pared with  the  cost  of  closing  a  hreak  in  t}xe  river  and 
constrtictinr  a  levee  down  to   tidev.'ater. 

An  exLifiiinatiori   of  plate   5   shows   this  li;:.rd   forrna- 
,    -.-  which  rock   could  be  placed   to  a  hei,rht   necessary 
eutralize  the  effect   of  the   "cut  back"    if  need  be.    - 

I.    _-    _.,,_oba'ble  that  borings  further  down 

stream,  ciS   far  as  Pilot  Knob ,  might   reach  this  hard   sti'eam, 
i-easonable  depth. 

It  must  "i)e   understood,  however,   tliat   for  an  out- 
let \7hich  \7ould  reach  the   great   depth  of  Sa,lton  Sink  and 
the  excessive   slope  incidental  thereto  ,  the   "cvit   lack" 
would  become  a  very   serious  menace  to    structures   on   t':e 
river  for  u  long  distance;  upstream. 

And   it    is   tiiis  major  danger  v/hich  must  be   safe- 
giiarded   in   the   interests   of   Imperial  Vu.lley,  as  -even 
tiiose   outlets   far   downstream  would  build   sub-deltas,  v/hich 
in  a  brief  space   of  time  might   reach  such  height  as  to 
overtop  the  defenses   to   the  northward  and  thus  divert  t'e 
water   to   the  Salt on  Basin. 

The   spectacle   of  the  New  River   gorge,   80   ft. 
deep,  and  a   thousand  feet  vride,    eroding   its  way  upstream 
at   the   rate   of  15  miles  per  xnonth,  as   it   did    in  1906,  was 
an   object   lesson  to   the  people   of   Imperial  Valley,   not    easy 
to   forget,  and  they  have  ample  ■"»-:  sons  for  dreading  a  re- 
currence  of    such  a   catastrophi  ,        Iliid   it   reached   the   Colo- 
rado  river,    it  would   certainly  have  lov/ered   the  bed   to    sudi 
an  extent    th^tt    ir"'"i'":ition  therefrom  vT-ould   '•  ■"•^'■e  been   im- 
practicable . 


IIFTIIODS  WHICH  HAVE  BKEN  PROPOSKD  POR  PROTECT Il^G 

T^-P^RIAL  VALLEY.       . 


One  !;.-it  oi-od  of  flood  control,  v/.-icii  :^.;,ti  .;een  car- 
riec      in  a  measure  by  the  Cal .  Development  Co.  is  the 
construction  of  a  line  of  iBvee,  whicli  turns  back  f  id  m 
the  river  at  a  point  about  6  miles  belov/  the  Int erntiticnal 
boundary  line,  and  runs  in  a  8outL.westerly  direction. 
This  levee  is  finished  to  a  heigiit  of  5  f t .  above  high 
Water  for  a  distance  of  14  miles.   It  is  covered  -i-^h 
gravel  and  carries  a  railroad  track  upon  it. 

Frum  Liiu  end  of  this  levee,  there  is  an  incom- 
plete line  for  a  distance  of  about  11  miles  farther. 


•  66« 


T^.-:.^  _....o  ,._s  coi:c.\.^..  ..d.  in  ^--..  ..^.r^nc  of  1910,  and  is 
deficient  in  "iDoth  heiplit  ajid  section. 

If  the  levee  line  liad  loeen  carried  u^.-.i   along 
tlie  river,  at  the  time  the  upper  section  was  built,  it 
F/ould  have  reached  a  point  about  6  miles  below  the  present 
Abejas  outlet  and  no  break  t'iiere  v/ould  have  occurred.  At 
tiie  end  of  the  levee,  the  flood  height  would  be  about  25 
ft.  lower  than  the  flood  heijrht  where  the  present  levee 
turns  back,  vrtiich  is  equivalent  to  a  reduction  of  flood 
height,  to   that  extent  in  the  territory  v/hicli  the  present 
levee  was  intended  to  protect.  . 

T:iere  is  a  f^p  of  10  miles  to  the  west  end  of 
the  Volcano  Lake  levee,  which  is  about  7  miles  in  length, 
and  teriainates  at  the  hi^h  ground  west  of  Volcano  Leike, 
This  latter  levee  is  also  too  low  to  meet  emergencies  tliat 
mipht  occur  at  any  flood  stage  of  river.  Wliere  tb.is  levee 
crosses  ITew  river,  flood  f^ates  with  concrete  abutments  are 
provided  but  liave  been  rendered  useless  by  a  loop  con- 
strTicted  arovmd  them  by  order  of  the  ICexican  Government. 

It  'las  been  suggested  that  this  line  should  be 
completed  to  the  proper  grade  and  the  Abejas  break  be  al- 
lowed to  flow  on  umaolested.   This  would  undoubtedly  pro- 
tect Imperial  Valley  from  floods  for  a  short  time;   but  it 
only  solves  pari;  of  t,.o  problem,  and.  even  t/^at  but  tempo- 


-  *  .■  n  -  - 


The   effect    of  any   ciitti>ig  back  in  the  Abejas, 
./■.:.oh  might   develop  to   such  proportions  as  to  lower  the 
bed  of  the   Colorado  river  below  the   sill  at  the  hcadgates, 
would  receive  no   check  by  such  construction. 

That   eveii  flood   control  woulr  v 

duration  can  be   seen  when  we  realize  that   the  levee  is 
built   dovm   into  a  basin,  which  lias  a    slope   of   some   3  f t . 
in  a  mile,  and   that   this  basin   itself  v,rould   in  a  brief 
period  of  time  be  raised  by  deposits  on  the    sub-delta   of 
the  Abejas,   v.^hich   is   limited    in  area,    so   that  a.ny  levees 
of  practicable  height  would  be    ovettop-i)ed.      It    is   related 
that  during  f-rief  interval  between  the  preliminary  pro- 

file and  the   cor.struction  of   the   Inter   California  Railway, 
tlie  deposit   of   sediment  liad- raised   the   line    several   feet. 
Tliis   shows  hovr  ineffectual  an  interior  level  line  niay  be. 

I'ore   tban  like  „  ,       .me   nevily  developed  branch   of 
the  Abejas,  attracted  by  the   steeper   slope  to  the  north- 
ward, v/ould  again  find  a  route    for   tbe   Colorado  River  to 
tbfi   f!f>Vit>F;    nf   the    Saltcn   Sink, 

As   this   proposed  method   only  tempore.rily   solves 
one  pliase   of  the   problem,    it  may  well  be   rejected  as    in- 
adeqviate. 


-o7- 


A;:uv.j'. r  rtiiiedy^  .  .ij.Oii  j-haQ    uceu  proposed,  is  to 
confine  the  v/ork  to  a  closure  of  the  "break  a.nd  restore  the 
river  to  its  fr.riner  channel.   Tliis,  also,  would  prove  of 
temporary  value,  hut  another  break  would  ce  sure  to  occur 
in  tlie  very  neu,r  future,  periiaps  with  the  next  great  flood, 
and  the  expense  of  making  the  closure  i/ould  not  he  justi- 


A  critical  study  of  the  whole  sitiiation,  in  all 
its  hearincs,  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  the  protection 
of  lands  and  property  in  Laperial  Vdley  requires  that  the 
Colorado  River  he  restored  to  its  former  clmnnel  and  thx),t 
an  effective  line  of  levee  for  flood  control  he  constructed 
from  a  point  on  the  Cal.  Development  Go's  levee,  ahout  6 
miles  helow  the  International  Boundary  line,  and  following 
along  dovm  stream  at  a  distance  of  ahout  3000  ft,  from  the 
westerly  bends  of  the  river  for  such  distance  as  will  carry 
the  flood  height  down  to  an  elevation  helow  the  intervening 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  Volca.no  Lake,  a  diversion  of  the 
stream  occurring  helow  such  point  v/ould  resii.lt  in  the  v/ater 
reaching  the  Gulf  of  California  and  the  tendency  to  flow 

Such  a  levee  will  he  about  25  miles  long  and  v;-ill 
require  about  1,300,000  yards  of  earth  work  and  450  acres 
of  clearing  and  grubbing.   To  com,)lete  this  large  amount  of 
work  before  the. spring  floods  v/ill  require  the  use  of  320 
scrapers,  with  double  team  of  mules,  estimating  each  scraper 
at  40  cubic  yards  per  day  of  10  hrs.   The  end  of  the  levee 
wQuld  be  about  20  r;iiles  above  tide  water. 

The  levee  should  be  built  to  a  grade  of  5  ft, 
above  high  \7ater,  this  hpight  being  specified  for  the  pur- 
pose of  having  excess  i;Taterial,  where^vith  to  remedy  deteri- 
or.ticn  rather  than  any  fear  of  overtopping  from  floods. 

railroad  track  nor  gravel'  covering  for  levees  are 
rcco.ij'-enaed ,  for  it  is  believed  to  be  more  important  to  ex- 
tend the  levee  as  far  as  practicable,  rtither  tiian  dissipate 
ilable  funds  for  mere  convenience  of  maintenance.   These 
can  '    dded  later,  if  thought  desirable. 

The  crown  should  be  8  ft.  wide  and  the  side  slopes 
one  of  three  and  a  berm  width  of  40  ft.  should  be  left  be- 
tween toe  of  slope  and  edge  of  borrow  pit,  v/hich  must  he  on 
the  river  side  of  the  levee. 

T---  -^..   .— -  Id  not  exceed  2  ft.  in  depth, 

i-de  next  to  the  levee,  and  then  slope  gradually  to 
tiie  farther  limit.   Traverses  50  ft,  in  width  should  be 
left  across  the  borrov/  pit,  at  intervals  of  about  400ft, 
Tlie  entire  ground  covered  by  the  levee  must  be  cleared  of 
roots  and  stumps,  to  such  depth  as  will  eliminate  danger 
from  seepage  xinder  the  levee,  A  much  ditch  of  such  depth 
as  will  reach  through,  the  cracked  adobe  soil,  even  to  the 
extent  of  several  feet,  must  be  constructed,  under  tlie  axis 
of  the  levee  and  filled  in  v/ith  clean  selected  material, 
v/ell  tramped  by  the  scraper  teams. 


other  detiiils  of   construction  v/ill  "be   covered    in 
u^.cc^  'ions,  — ■     -   "bids  are    called  for. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  lov/er  part   of  the  Colo- 
rado delta    is   now' utilized   for   crazing  purposes,    the   Cal- 
if ornia-IIexico   Ranch   Co.   havinf:  13,000  head   of   cattle 
therein. 

The  ijeriodic  overflov/s  supply  tiic  moisture  needed 
to  develop  liixurious  pasturape  and  fills  the  v/ater  holes  to 
supply  t]ie    cattle. 

T:ie   construction  of  the  levee  proposed  v/ill  de- 
stroy t-iis  automatic  process   of  watering?  the  tract,  as 
gates   or   openings    in  a  levee   of  this   character   cannot   he 
recons'aended .        This  can,  however,  he  realized  in  a  .more 
certain  and    simple  way,   hy  putting  a  waste   gate   in  the 
south   side   of  Imperial   canal,  where   it  approaches  near  the 
former  hed   of  the  Paredones,  and   flood  the   tract   fro;. 
tiiere,  via   the   stream  mimed,   during  flood   stages   of    .-lu 
Colorado. 

As    it   is   no\r ,    only  the  high   iverflow   stages 
:...„u^.    ...0  upper   portions   of   the  pasturage   tract.      U^inr- 
the  means   suggested,   through  the  Imperial  headgates, 
times  when  the  water    is  abundant  ,  would    insure  an  anr.uui 
<-.•-,:  riiy   of   the  magnitude  required. 

The    space  "between  the  levee  and   the   river   could 
he  us..^   .  wr   grazing,  and  also  a  large  area  helow  the    end  of 
the  levee.      So,   on  the  whole,   the  levee   should  not  he   ser- 
iously ohj  ectionahle,    even  to   the   cattlemen.      Tlien,    too, 
the   soil   is   so  productive  theit   cultivation  must  he  resort- 
ed to    in  the  near   future,  and  a   canal  along  the  lines   r-am- 
ed  would   supply  the   necessary  water.      In   short,  a  levee    is 
essential   to  any   schp^no   of   cultivation   in  this  portion   of 
the  delta . 


CLOSURE  03?  THE  BREAK  AND  DIVERSION  OE  THE 
?/ATER  BACK  TO   THE  BED   OE   COLORADO   RIVER. 


j:..-..    ..reak   is   on   t/ie  right  hank,  ahout    20  miles 
hy  river  helow  the   California  Mexican  Bor.ndary  line  and 
gome   5  miles  from  the   end,   of  the  track  on  the  levee.      It 
will,   therefore,  be  necessary  to   extend  the  track   in  order 
to  hring  the   necessary  material   to   the  point   reqiaired. 

At    'jj^  j. a  i;  j-j.iu  ,    OJH.J    <.-i;  i^  J- /  &   _  .i»j VI    w  J     .;-»^   _■  j.  V  ^x    ^, 0 es 

dova  a  high  water  oiitlet   Of  long   standing,  known  as   the 

Ahejas  river,  and  finds   its  way  down  the  Pescadero  and 

other   channels  to  the  Hardy  River,  and  thence  down  to    its 

junction  with  the  Colorado  river.      In  its  passage  to  the 


-69- 


-^.i\.j    i.  .u    o_j.i,    J.O  _^j.^Gticc.,lly  all   eliriiiiiiated  and   tiiis   de- 
posit  is  rtipidly  raising  tiie   foot   of  tiie   steep   slope  vvitli 
.'  result   tiiat  a    slope   line   is  developed  which   is  not 
XT,,   ^.,    ,.,.„^„g  -Q^  noi-jiial   river    slope. 

As   near  a,s    ci^n   ue  liieasured  from  the   data  c-t 

„^,.ia ,    0--U   ;jresent   route   to   tidev/ater,  via  the  Abejas   river, 

Volcano  Lake,   P^a-edones  and  Hc.rdy  rivers,  is  about    7  miles 
siiorter  tha             .he   Colorado  River. 

The   slope   of  the  Hardy  River   is  lAuch  flatter   tlmn 
that   of  the   Colorado,-  hence   the   tide  runs   farther   i-i' . 
llean  tide  would  reach  about    the  laouth  of  the  Pescadero  , 
on  the  Hardy,   and  measuring  to   that   point,    the  distances 
by   the        _    I'outes  v/ould  be  practicaily  the    s^r^iie. 

Tlie  crossing  for  the   closure  v/ill  Y)e  about   2000         ^ 
ft.   dovm  the  Abejas,  where  a  trestle  about  1000  ft.   long 
will  be  required.      The  distance  botv/een  the  high,  water 
banks  being   2100   ft.  and  the  present    ciiannel  width   550   ft. 
Tiiis  v/ill  be  the  ordinary   standard  railway  trestle,  with  4 
pile  bents,    spaced  16   ft.   between   centers.      Tlie  piles  7/ill 
be   driven  to  a  penetration   of   20   ft.,    or  more,   where  re- 
quired. 

The   entire   crossing  v;ill  then  be  uniformly  blank- 
eted with  run  of   quarry  rock   from  Pilot  Knob,    some   25  miles      -j 
distant.      Tlie  rock  v;ill  be  hauled   in  and  dvimped  from  bat- 
tleship  cars,   of .  50   cu.yds.    capacity 'each,   and  dumping  \7ill 
continued  until   the  water   level   is  raised,    so  as  to  run 
ao'/n  the    old  river  bed  and   the  dam  v/ill  be   finished  up   to 
the   r-Tiidc    of   the  adnacent   leveos,   vrith  which   it   v/ill    con- 


nec-. 


sloToes  of  1  on  2. 


,/idth  of  20  _,.  and  side 


As  w.-v.  ..reak  lies  in  a  sharp  bend  o^  ..  ^.^.r, 

the  dam  must  he  placed  well  down  the  Abejas  in  order  to  pre- 
vent its  early  destruction  by  erosion.  On  this  account  the 
work  will  be  somewliat  more  difficult  tlian  closing  a  break 
in  a  straijf^ht  reach  as  has  been  done  heretofore. 

l\.^.  ..j..,iuii  oj.  -.--o  v.-...^.i. A.1  c.\.  >-...j.e  crossing  is  at 
present  550  ft,,  and  the  maximum  height  of  the  dam  for  a 
short  distance  v/ill  be  20  ft.  up  to  grade.  Assi^ming  a  set- 
tling or  shrinkage  of  one-third,  the  dam  v/ill  require  about 
67,000  cu.yds.  of  raaterial  in  its  construction,  under  con- 
ditions as  they  now- are.   Intervening  flood  conditions  o&y 
r-'' i  ^•■■.lly  cli-ange  these  fi^^vr'-^s. 

If  the  closure  could  be  errected  at  a  stage  of 
river  like  the  present,  no  difficulty  need  be  anticipated, 
but  a  sudden  rise  in  the  midst  of  the  v/crk  might  result  in 
serious  complications  and  the  destruction  of  the  work  in 


-70- 


Tiie  closures  siiould  be  comraenced  at  t/ie  earliest  ^ 
practicable  date,  in  order  to  take  advantage  of  the  prob- 
able low  water  season. 

If  tile  7ork  could  be  done  at  a  very  low  stage, 
tb.e  wiiole  operation  of  closure  might  be  economically  han- 
dled in  the  dry,  by  utilizing  the  temporary  dam,  just  below 
the  intale  ,  raising  it  to  the  required  height  with  ballastdd 
willow  mats,  so  as  to  divert  all  of  the  v/ater  through  the 
concrete  head  gates,  which  liave  a  capacity  of  10,000  cu. 
ft.  per  sec,  dov/n  to  a  spillway  leading  to  the  Paredonis 
ch-annel.   This  would  very  materially  simplify  the  ?/hole 
problem,  but  like  c.ny  other  method  of  closure,  would  be 
subject  to  serious  damage  by  floods,  v/hich  might  come  dur- 
ing'any  stage  of  the  v;ork.   Its  success  would  require  a 
very  low  stage  of  river  for  perhaps  ten  days.  Tne   canal 
between  the  head  gates  and  the  suggested  spillway  would  be 
expected  to  enlarge  by  sluicing  out  the  sedimentary  depos- 
its, vmich  have  reduced  its  capacity  to  a  niarked  extent, 
and  this  of  itself  would  be  highly  beneficial  to  the  supply 
Si'-stem  of  the  canal. 


-'v' 


IITTJ'K'STS  AJPECTJ^D  BY  TEE  PROPOSED  IIIPROVima^T  WORK 


I'ir  St :   The  people  of  the  Imperial  Valley  are 
vitally  interested,  since  their  very  existence  depends  on 
the  m&,intenance  of  a  barrier  that  v/ill  eff ecti:ially  prevent 
the  Colorado  River  from  invading  the  Salt  on  Basin.  Tne   ap- 
'■'jpriation  iimde  by  Congress  is  for  the  purpose  of  protect- 
_.-^;  lands  and  property'-  in  Imperial  Vallej/  but  incidentally 
other  interests  'Till  be  largely  benefited  by  any  v/ork  tlis.t 
may  '   'one. 

Second:   The  Cal .  Development  Co.,  and  its  Mex- 
ican Association  Co.,  which  must  liave  stable  river  condi- 
tions, in  order,  to  successfully  carry  out  its  oblig:;^.tions 
to  supply  water  to  the  various  wtiter  companies  in  Imperial 
"-  -  -  ■   Mexico  . 

Third:   The  3. P.  Ry.  Co.,  '.Yiiich  receives  large 
revenues  from  the  transportation  of  tlie  people,  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  Valley  and  the  supplies  required  therein.   Tiiey 
also  have  a  direct  interest  as  holders  of  bonds  and  judg- 

''Or  a  large  amount,  covering  land  holdings  of  the 
..-.---.e^n  side  of  the  Development  Co.  Tliey  are  interested 
in  the  prosperity  of  the  Cal.  Development  Co.,  in  order 
t-ifit  pay  the  cash  advances  and  oth.er  obliga- 


Poxirth:   Tiie  i^roperty  ovmers  on  the  soiith  side 
Qf  --  o  T.r^■,  v-,,v  ,.,r  line,  in  llexico  ,  vi-ose  1-  -^'^^^  could  never 


-71- 


jught.  under   successful   cvativati  tliout   effective 

flood,  control.  Large  c»reas,  now  flooacd,  such  as  Volca,no 
Luke,  covering  perliapslOO  sq  .miles,  nor  vortlilcss,  •;oi-.ld 
"be  recluiiaed  for  cvltivation. 

T.-.^  -^se  of  tlie  Colorado  River  Land  Co,  differs 
from  tluit  of  the  other  parties  interested  in  the  proposed 
inprovement ,  in  that  the  right  of  v/ay  for  a  levee  must  pass 
throiigh  their  land  and  furthermore  a  levee  will  interrupt 
to  a  certain  extent  the  natural  irrigation  from  floods 
which  the:.''  now  huve.  So  here  the  questions  of  hetterment 
a  ""    ■possible  d-"^  '••e  are    entitled  to    consideration. 

This   COiipany    is   said   to    own   686000  acres   of   land 
in    .--^   lower  part   of  f  e    Coloraao   delta.     At   least   one- 
third  of  tSre'horthern  -on  of  this  land   is  not  watered 

to  any  valuaTale   extent  by  ordinaz'y  floods,  and  the  most 
valuable  area   for   forage   lies   in   t}ie   lower  iialf   of   the   re- 
:>Taining  portion   of  the   tract. 

It   is   ^.^w^..used  to    carry  the   leveu   ^^....  ^.^r   enoiagri 
so   t-Lu.t  o.ny  tendency  of  the  river  below  the   end  of  the 
levee  to  follow  outlets  to   the  westward  v;ill  be  minimized 
and   even  a  break  v/ould  not  become  a  menace   to   the   lands  and 
property   in  Lripurial  Valley  as   the   flood   control  would 
reach  within  20  miles   of   tide  water  where   the  nuiximvun  flood 
.„^j„-.,4.    s_^    ..-,w-,-,,+    +-.-«    H-  '^.o  as   tjiat   of  Volcano  La3:e. 

Txie  area  between  the   end  of  the  levee,   the 
:;;^,'u.--  ui    .-^e  Hardy,   the   Colorado  river  and  the  Cocopah 
range    covers  about   265000  aJEres  v/hich  \-7ill  not  be  niateri- 
ally  affected  by  the  levee  and  this  area   covers  tiie  best 
of   '■'""■   ■^'"T''    -^   ^ract   now  devoted   to    cattle. 

Between  the   two   tracts  described,  lies  an  area 
v.'_.xu--  u:ider  normal    conditions  has  been  flooded  to  a   ri^eat- 
er  or  less  extent  at  high  stages. 

Tl;.e  iii^ximutn  flood  voIvjilc  at  Yvaiia   for    t^-.e   past    8 
years  are  as  follows: 


I  ,    is  believed  that  to   flood  this  middle  tract 
to    SUCH  ex'ucnt  as   to  be  rater ially  beneficial,   the   flood 
volume  must   reach  at   least    75,000   cu.ft.   per    sec.,  L;.nd    it 
T/ill  be   seen  from  the  table  that  during  only  half  of  the 
years  iias   this   condition  been  realized.       Yet   it   is  likely 
t:iat   to  \7holly   exclude   the   flood  waters  from  this  tract 
will  deplete  to  a  material   extent,  the  area  tiiat   is    low  used 
advantageously  for   cattle.      So  here   is   the  j.icasure   of   the 
possible   injury   to   the    company  ai-ising  from  the   exclusion 
of  floods. 


ion   should  also  "be  iruide   of  the  lands  which 

-. _. __    een   the   levee  and  the  river.      Tliis   It^nd  will 

dovibtless  be  flooded  every  year  with  rare   exceptions  and 
h-ence   should  be  prolific   in  forage   suitable   for    cattle,    so 
the   damape  here   i>''.ay  properly  be   re~^rclcd  as   norfiin£..l . 

Having  enumox'atod.  tiie  pcscible  dainages  arising 
i__...   „_^rainating  the   overflov/   it    is  proper   to   consider   the 
benefits  accruing  to   the   Colorado  River  Land   Co.   therefrom. 

In   \::-c   jirs.    _.:,,. ue,    it    is  lii-hly   improbable   tliat 
this  vast   fertile   tract   of   over   600,000  acres  will  be  long 
devoted  to   stock  raising.     At   the  present   time  there   is 
about   35  acres   to    each  head   of   stock   on  the  ranr^e. 

Under    irrigation  and    cultivation,    this   35  acres 
.-._„  ^  -eld  about   1225  bushels   of  barley   or   350   tons   of 
alfalfa,    so   there    is   every   induceraent   to    change   to    cultiva- 
:.s  rapidly  as    conditions  ""ill  per?"it. 

Cultivation  to  any   considerable    extent  without 
flood   control  bjr  means   of  a  levee    is   impracticable  both   on 
account   of  the  protection   of   the   irrigation   S3/stem  tu'id   t'le 
protection  for  the   crops  from  direct  flood  damages. 

Tlic   cc    .. -rv-c.__-:   of   the   levee   therefore  becomes 
of    substantial  benefit    to   the   Colorado  River  Land   Co.    in 
this   respect, 

Furthermore,   the   exclusion  of  floods  from  the 
Volcano  Lake  district  v/ill   reclaim  65,000  acres   or  more 

..,.-  -.  ,,v,    j^g   pQ^  vmolly  valueless. 

So  on  the  whole  it  seems  clear  that  the  better-r 
ments  ^  .r  outweigh  such  injury  as  rnay  be  properly  charge- 
able  to  v/orks   for   flood   control. 

These  are   r^^u.^ox    i. Matters   -^^-^.^    j-.ould  be  cu^i  l-j^oU 
by  and  between  the  local   interests  in  order  that   the  pro- 
jected work  be  not  delayed  which  might   even  jeopardize  the 

g^^^-.,,,i  .■-,.,,,. ^   ^4-   x-,^  mone;'  •,    '■ropriated, 

?iith:      The   Goverrjaent   of  Mexico  will  receive 
substaii.^^1  benefit,    since  the  proposed   improvement  will 
make   it  possible  to   change  a  very  large  tract,  wiiicli  now 
affords  meagre  pasturage   for   comparatively  few. cattle,   to 
a   state   of  cultivation,  which  will  bring  returns  of  r^ny 
dollars  per  acre,   and   these  revenues  v;ill  add  materially  to 
the  prosperity  of  our   sister  Republic. 


Sixth:     Works  for   effective  flood  control  7;ill 
contribute  measure  to  safety  of  the   structures 


• 


-73- 


"built  by  the  U.S.  at  great  expense,  for  uf'ri cultural  de- 
velo^inent  of  Yuma  Valley  and  the  anxiety  heretofore  felt 
for  safety  of .Lacuna  dam,   uhen  breaks   of  the   Colorado 

rjs,YC    occurred,  will   "  '"'cctually   set  at   rest. 


RECOlGDE^iDATIONS. 


In  accordance  v/ith  the    investigations  inade  and 

tlie    elusions   reached   thcrrnfroin,    I  have  the  honor   to 

recorrjnend  the   closure   of  Ahejas  river   so  as  to   divert 

the   flow    ■ "    "       Colorado  rivtr  back  to    its   forraer  >)ed. 

The   construction   of  a   line,  of  levee   southward 
from  a  point  on  the   Cal.  Development  levee  about   six  iiiiles 
south   of   the  head   gates  and  following  along  the  river  a.t 
a  distance  of  about   3000  ft.  v/est   of  the  westerly  bend, 
dov,-n   to   the   tjroposed  diversion  dan  across  Abejas  river  and 
continue  the   saxae   to   a  point  about   42  niles  by  river  below 
the  liead  gates  at  Hanlons,   l.  total  length  of  levee  of  about 
25  railes. 

A  break  below  the  lov/er  terminus  of  the  proposed 
levee  would  be   so   near  the   Gulf   of   California   t-iat   there 
••-'ould  be  no   fear  of  the-  Colorado  River  reaobinr  the   Salton 
sink   from  that   locality. 

Tliese      recoramc:  .._._. .,:j  ^r^.    ..^sed   on  the   supposi- 
tion that   the  right   of  way  for  access  to  the  break  and  on 
v^hicli  to   construct  tiie  proposed  levee  will  be  granted  to 
the  U.S.   free   of   cost,   as    it    1^    ":"  e  practice   on  the  Miss- 
issippi river   on    Bimilar   ./orl  . 

T.  V.    ..^■.^...-  .,....^„    ..^    closed   . _-.„    ...e   lov/  v/ater 

season  and  the  entire  work  must  be   completed  before  the  " 
arrival   of   the  usual   spring  floods.      Active   construction 
laust   therefore  begin  at  a  verj-   early  date  and  the   necess- 
ary negotiations  v/ith  the  Mexican  Government    should  there- 
fore be  concluded  v^ith  the  least  possible  delay, 

lly  acknov/ledgements  are  due  to  Mr.   F.L.   Sellew, 
Project  Engineer   of  the  Reclaii^ation  Service,  who  has  ren- 
dered  substantial  assistance    in  many  ways  which  r,)atcrially 
facilitated  n^'-  v/ork  and  did  much  to  mitigate   the  liardships 
incident  to  field  work  in  the   summer  section  where 

■r'-—'  '  i-'r   temperatures  are    comnion. 

To  Mr.  W.H.  Holabird,   Receiver   of  the   Cal.   I>e- 
V  u^o^.:;:u:it    Co , ,  and  his   Cliief  Engineer,   C.K.    Clarke; 
Mr.   I>.0.  Anderson,    of   the   Colorado  River  Land   Co;      Mr, 
?f.K.   Bowker,    of  the   C-M  Ranch  Co,,  and  the   officials    of 

the    sr-  --^-  "^    ■■■■  r  ^,T    companies   in   Imperial  Valley  "'■"    '-"anks 


-74- 


are  due  for  prompt  response  to  :ay  many  reqi; est s  for  infer- 
.  .■-■T  .  s  to  their,  respective  fields  of  work. 


Respectfully  submitted , 
J. A.  Ockerson, 


Hon.  Franlc  Pierce, 

Assistant  Secretary  of     Interior, 
Washington,  D.O, 


-75- 


List   of  J-iaps  and  Plc-tes  to  acconpany  report    of 

J. A,    0  on,    Cc:r'r:i-1 .  . . .      "nr'ineer   on  •'iie   Protec of 

La:-:ds  "    ,;urid  Vaiicy,    C^.j_  . 

._._.  _,.  1  -  .1,,-       3  Colorado  Delta  and  Imioeri^l  ■V..,lley 

Map  No .  2  -  1.L.P  of  tlie  Colorado  River  survey  of  Aur.  - 
Sept. ,  1910 

Plate  1  -  Inperial  Canal  Intake 

"  2  -  Temp  or,  -estle 

"  .1    -   .'     -^ ..  -  ..sent   dara 

"  4   -  Sloije  diagram  of  Outlets 

"  5   -   Cross-sections   sliov/ing  bed  rock  and   ciiunges    in 

riv  :r  bed  due  to   floods. 

"  -ancec  :.nk  line   of   Colorado  river   since 

1873. 

"  7      -  HTdrof:rat)h  of  Salt  on  Sea 


O       —      O  ^  1^'    .  1.. 


"'lorado    ./..    ■  -    ^--0 


9  -  Hydrograph  of  Colorado  River  at  Yuma  1878-1910 


-76- 


,:i 


COLORADO  RIV3'":R  HISTORY 

1540:      r.::.^loru/;.ion ,    ..^     ..'..ter,    of   tlie   lower   river  hy  Prtin- 
cisco  Alarcon 

1540:      Fi.-,  j.>^.  c,  .-.o-v^.i ,    ^voxxc,...d,    of   tlie  lower   river   l-y  Ilel- 
cliior  Diaz 

1604:      '•"     ^  '^^■^■.  -    .  .    u\.:^.\:i  de   Onate 

1701-1702:      Exiploratic  Padre  Eusibio  F-cuncisco  Kino 

1721:      Tbcploration  by  Upc^.rte 

1744:      T:     _  --..,.    ,^    :\,.  _,...ado    Cor  say 

1771  1776:      E::pl oration  by  Pu^dre   Gi^rces 

1826:      Kxiploration  by  Lieut.   RJ-.E.  Hardy 

1  ::::/<:      JL  ■"•■   ■^--   J;  s.P.    Pat  tie  and   father 

1850-51:      Exploration  by  Lieut.    Gr.H.  Derbj'- 

1B57:      Exploratic  Lieut.   J.C.    Ives 

l":r'3:       C,,l.   Development    Co.    incorporated   in  State   of  N.J. 
O-p.31 

1    '     :      CD. Co.    secured   option   on  100,000  acres   in  i.ic-.vico 
from  Cuillermo  Andrade        0-p.31 

1-  '  -:      J'  ne.      Contract    cuiiSLiiiL..x^tc!a  to   jjurc.ii^se   100,000 

acres   from  Guillermo  Ai'drade  by   C.D.Co.   0-p.31 

1900:      Construction  by   C.D.Co,   begun  at  Hanlons  Heading,    in 
late    suroraer        K-   p. 3. 

1903:      Need   of   levees.      {Ci.    '  .    "  Ci--r  Jad\7in,    Corps   of  En- 
gineers)       I  p. 5 

1904:      '".    -ing.      Second   intake   cut   from  river  to    canal,   bv 
C.D.Co.      O-p.33  Also,    Intake  ITo .    3  n^ade. 

1904:      J  vie   10,      Contract   bctv/een  Republic   of  Mexico  und 
Sociedad  de  Yrringacion  y  Terrenes  de  la  Baja 
California  Anonima ,   permitting  appropriation   of 
10,000    SEc.ft.   from  Colorado  River   in. Mexico 
(Approved  by  Pros.    Diaz)        0-  p. 24. 

190P:      r   ne   20.     Aci-ecmeut    Ljetv/ee.i    C.T'.    Co.         "    S.P.Co. 
0-p.    20 

1905:      June  20,   Agreement  betv/een   C.D.Co,,  Mexican  Co,   and 
S.P.    Co.        0-p. 22. 


-77- 


1?0":      All    .    or   Sept.,   disa,strous  flood  occurred,  washing 
out   $150,000   '•o.,tc  cutting   clmnnel  1800   ft. 

'.ride  0-     ."" 

Oct.    (?)      Rock  dam  completed  across    cut    in  ditch 

0--.35 
ITov.    6;      CD. Co.    succeeds   in   clcsinr   , -^-   0-p.l2. 
Dec- 7:      Plood  passed  under  levees    immediately   south 

of  hreak,  washing   out   levees  "below  dam,    etc, 

0-  p.l?. 

Dec.  21:   Llexican  Government  served  preliminary  in- 
formal notice  on  liexican  Co.  to  furnish  proof  sat* 
isfactory  tlmt  it  had  means,  within  30  days  there 
after,  to  shut  out  and  control  waters  of  the 
Colorado  River  or  else  concession  to  llexican  Co, 
v/ould  he  cancelled  and  the  v/ater  shut  out  of 
llexico.   0-  p. 35 

Dec.  26:   Doran  gives  financial  statement  of  CD. Co. 
0-p.  16. 

1906:  Dec.  13  to  31.   Teler:rams  E.H.  Ha,rriman  and  Pros. 
Roosevelt . 

1907:  Ji'.n.   4  to  7.   Telegram  President  Roosevelt  and 
E.H.  Harriman, 


June  25,  1910,  Congressional  Record,  Vol.  4! 
:To.  163,  p.  9522,  ln  +  --'-  ---^    e  President  (H.Doc  .ITo  .972) 
stating  that  the  situcitiori  on  Colorado  River  is  exceeding- 

Gerious  and  Vnat   unless  qiiick  relief  can  he  had  thous- 
ands of  people  ■  '-^r>     ^i]  ">  ions  in  land  valvies  vilJ  he  .jeopar- 
dized. Also,  letter  from  P. H,  I'ewell  to  Senator  Plint , 
dated  June  23rd. 

June  25,  Joint  Ilesoliition  (S.J.  Resolution  I'o , 
120)  making  appropriation  to  permit  President  to  protect 
peo-:51e      )roperty  in  Imperial  Valley  in  Cal .  ,  appropriat- 
iiifT  one  million  dollars  was  passed  by  the  Semite.   On  the 
Same  day  (Cong.  Record,  p. 9559)  the  message  was  laid  be- 
fore the  House  )see  pare  9565)  a.'id  under  suspension  of  the 
rules  Senate  Joint  Resolution  was  passed. 

-78- 


J"  ■"-  '^J:  x.'ev/ell  to  Elint-  A'gy.x.i^..:,ly  a  similar  v;ork  must 
"be  undertaken  imrnedia.tely  to  prevent  the  possi- 
Lility  of  disaster.  Confr:.  Record,  Vol.  45,  ITo . 
163,   p.    9523. 

June  (?)  Conference  at  Los  Anf^eles  of  representatives  of 
Iraperial  Valley,  R.P.  Co.,  Cal .  Developraent  Co. 
etc. 

June    '^'^j      Act.   ^■'"-^•'■ed. 

July  4,   L.'w.  ?;ill  in  Y/ashinr;ton  from  Phoenix 

Ockerson  to  V/ashinf:ton 

Invest! rat  ion 


July 

15, 

Auru; 

St, 

Sept 

• 

Oct. 

4, 

I'ov . 

3, 

"cv. 

4, 

"ov . 

5, 

Ockerson  reports 

Oc''-"^r':n  to  Y';..sh.  for  conference 

Report 

Ballinper   to   President. 

:;.7ov .    18.      Sinall   force   Q.rganized   for    survey   for   railway. 

ITov  .    23.      Ockerson  at  Yujna 

!Tov .    2:.         :.ds   opened     p.    42 

Dec.   1.        Ockerson  reports   season  far  advanced 

Dec:    9.        Contract  betv/een   Colorado   River  Land   Co,  and 
Ockerson 

De.c.  12.      Ockerson  wires  cannot    send  tools,    etc.    over  line 

Dec.  13.      Ockerson  wires  delay  costinp-  Government  $700  per 
day  p.   14 

Dec.   17.      Ockerson  wires  v/ork  blocked        p. 14 

Deo,   17.      OckersonWites  luive   no   forraal   documents     p.    15 

Dec.   19.      Ockerson  wires  no    ingtructions  yet   for  local 
officials,      p.   17. 

Dec.  21.  Ockerson  wires  no    concessions  as  yet 

D''".  -'^ .  Purinal    p-^^n}--  v^e   o^   '^.otes 

Dec.  28.  Ockerson  wires  duties  being  paid 

Dec,  51.  Ockerson  wires  no   ctistoras  officers  yet, 

-79- 


1911. 


Ja,n .    3 , 


J:  n 

.    8. 

18. 

21. 

P9. 

Peb 

.    2 

4 

7 

17 

19 

21 

22 

28 

llarch 

It 

7 

II 

13 

11 

28 

Apr 

• 

II 

6, 

II 

8 

II 

16 

iiiy 

10 

15 

15 

20 

25 

26 

Ockerson  v/rites  promises   of   officials  no  use. 
\7iuit   instructions  to   tlrem. 

TrcLck   ^-cAir-  heran  vTorlc. 

Pile   driver  a:'id   tools   reached  Alejos 

Pile   driving  tegan 

Insurrectos    capture  : lexical i 

Last  bent   driven  and  rock  dumping  iDegan 

Track   completed   to  Alejas   river 

,-.,...  v;en  rise 

Trestle  again  closed 

Ockerson  informed  that  Mexican  Government  pro- 
posed sending  300  soldiers 

Insurrectos  take  Algodones 

Mexicans  authorized  local  police 

By  end  of  month  1300  carloads  of  rock  dumped 

Insurrectos  stop  equipment,  etc. 

ITcrf-"  '^'■'^r    •^'=''^en  herxts  '- -'•'^  ■'""^.y 

Ra,ft   of  drift  v/recked  bents-  drowned   one  man 

Pile-driving  resumed 

Insurrectos  plundered   stores  and  were   constant 
menace   to  work 

Ockerson  \7ires,   must   orranize   patrol 

Ockerson   ordered  to   leave 

: lex i can  troops  arrive  at    camp 

llexican   troops  go   to  Algodones 

Dam  completed 

Ockerson  aiithorised  to   protect   levee 

Ockerson  reports  resvilts 

Ockerson  at  Washington 

Ockerson   talking  to   General  TIarshall   &  xTev/ell 


-80- 


June  1,        "ec'v  Pisher   calls  Tooard   --  ITewell ,  lh.TshB.11 , 
OG>:erson,   Lippincott   &  Otis 

June    7,        Board  report. 


-81- 


40.351); 


A/. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  LIBRARY 


